Best lakes around Knoxville

#1
midnight orange

midnight orange

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#1
I am considering re-locating at some point to a Knoxville lake. In my ranking I've got Douglas, Cherokee, and Norris. Any info on pitfalls or tips about these areas would be appreciated especially if you have a way to acquire land cheap.
 
#2
#2
midnight orange said:
I am considering re-locating at some point to a Knoxville lake. In my ranking I've got Douglas, Cherokee, and Norris. Any info on pitfalls or tips about these areas would be appreciated especially if you have a way to acquire land cheap.
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Judging by lake quality alone, Norris is the best by far. Beautiful clear water that you are not afraid to swim in. Douglas Lake is pretty much drained every winter. It is the better fishing lake. Norris is very deep, over 200' in some spots at full pool. I am in the marine business so I am very familiar with the local lakes. If you have specific questions, ask away.
 
#3
#3
Norris would be fine but it turns in to little Ohio in the summer. Fishing sucks because of all of the wake boarding. I wouldn't recommend it if you wanna fish during the warm months. If you like to wake board and jet ski then have at it.
 
#4
#4
Thanks for the replies. How is the view from Norris as for seeing the Smokies and how convenient is it from say a grocery store or restaurants?
 
#5
#5
Been going to Cherokee since I was born (even before). Likely the least crowded of those and still had decent fishing. Haven't priced it but I'd imagine land is less expensive too. It's more popular with the tri-cities crowd than Knoxville
 
#6
#6
The view of the smokies on Norris isn't that great. I suppose if you got a house way up on top of a ridge you could see them on a clear day. it's sort of in the mountains itself. It is on the north side of Knox County by about 20 miles. Like KS says, it does get an influx of Ohio people in the summer but that is more prevalent on the north side of the lake particularly on the Powell River leg. Also, it isn't as good as a fishing lake especially for large mouth, but the old timers know how to fish the lake and can usually do quite well for small mouth. Also, while not as good as in years past, the striper fishing is very good. It used to be world class with some 60lbers coming out. Walleye fishing isn't bad either if you know what you are doing.

There is no argument from me though that Douglas is a better fishing lake. Douglass is a much shallower lake and when TVA drains it in the winter, you have sometimes a mile of dirt before you see the water.

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If you like swiming, skiing, wake boarding and such then Norris is your ticket. It is the best for houseboating too. Norris is huge with about 900 miles of shoreline.

As to grocery stores, all around Norris is fairly well developed, especially the south side. I will say though that there are more home building sites on the north side of the lake due to more private property being available. There is usually a grocery store withing 10-20 min where ever you are.

Again, if I wanted a view of the smokies and fishing were my thing, I'd choose Douglas. If you want to swim and partake in beautiful clear water, I'd choose Norris.
 
#7
#7
You can't navigate out of Norris, Cherokee, or Douglas. You can get through the dam locks from Melton Hill, Fort Loudon, Tellico, and Watts Bar and get all the way to the Gulf of Mexico if you wish. Or Chattanooga.
 
#8
#8
I'm a vote for Douglas. Its where my family has had a place for 20+ years now. The winter draw downs are a pain but we adjusted quickly. The views of the Smokies are priceless.

None of the ones you listed will disappoint you though.

I will say, wake boats are ruining just about every lake around here. TWRA really needs to look at some sort of regulation.
 
#9
#9
Thunder Good-Oil said:
You can't navigate out of Norris, Cherokee, or Douglas. You can get through the dam locks from Melton Hill, Fort Loudon, Tellico, and Watts Bar and get all the way to the Gulf of Mexico if you wish. Or Chattanooga.
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This is true. If your desire is to navigate the river system, Norris, Douglas, or Cherokee don't offer that. If that is what you desire, I recommend Tellico.
 
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#10
#10
WallyBalls said:
I'm a vote for Douglas. Its where my family has had a place for 20+ years now. The winter draw downs are a pain but we adjusted quickly. The views of the Smokies are priceless.

None of the ones you listed will disappoint you though.

I will say, wake boats are ruining just about every lake around here. TWRA really needs to look at some sort of regulation.
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I like the clear, clean water Norris offers but that's just me. You are correct on the Wake Board stuff. Hard to avoid them now a days.
 
#12
#12
InVOLuntary said:
I like the clear, clean water Norris offers but that's just me. You are correct on the Wake Board stuff. Hard to avoid them now a days.
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By no means was I diminishing Norris. The only negative there I see is the Little Ohio part, but its a small quibble. Douglas has its clear years, but a lot of external factors go into it, and admittedly it has years where its murky and full of limbs.

He's got 3 great options. Makes me realize how rich in great lakes we are around here.



The wake boats are getting to be more and more of a problem. They are causing huge chunks of bank/shore to wash into the lake on Douglas. They'll get back in a small creek and absolute tear it all to hell. Then run down the lake with their tanks full making it miserable just to drive around. Its infuriating.
 
#13
#13
WallyBalls said:
By no means was I diminishing Norris. The only negative there I see is the Little Ohio part, but its a small quibble. Douglas has its clear years, but a lot of external factors go into it, and admittedly it has years where its murky and full of limbs.

He's got 3 great options. Makes me realize how rich in great lakes we are around here.



The wake boats are getting to be more and more of a problem. They are causing huge chunks of bank/shore to wash into the lake on Douglas. They'll get back in a small creek and absolute tear it all to hell. Then run down the lake with their tanks full making it miserable just to drive around. Its infuriating.
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Thanks everyone in advance and for all past replies. Good stuff. Here in west TN all the close lakes are pretty much mudholes that contain big catfish with laser beams on them. It's about a 3 hour drive into the bowels of Arkansas to find a lake with clear water.
 
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#15
#15
WallyBalls said:
By no means was I diminishing Norris. The only negative there I see is the Little Ohio part, but its a small quibble. Douglas has its clear years, but a lot of external factors go into it, and admittedly it has years where its murky and full of limbs.

He's got 3 great options. Makes me realize how rich in great lakes we are around here.



The wake boats are getting to be more and more of a problem. They are causing huge chunks of bank/shore to wash into the lake on Douglas. They'll get back in a small creek and absolute tear it all to hell. Then run down the lake with their tanks full making it miserable just to drive around. Its infuriating.
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I think the murkey water is what makes the fishing good.
 
#16
#16
So long as being near downtown Knoxville isn't a requirement, Tellico is awesome. Land is cheaper in Loudon and Monroe counties, it's not crowded, the water is fairly deep and clear, it has a largely-undeveloped shoreline, and it gives you access to the Tennessee River dam/lock system (Vol Navy, long trips, etc).
 
#18
#18
Primarly for boating but would want to relatively close to a grocery store, restaurant, hardware store (10-20 minutes). I would also want to be within a hour drive to Knoxville. Close proximity to The Smokies for hiking would be a plus. Price is also a huge consideration.
 
#19
#19
InVOLuntary said:
I think the murkey water is what makes the fishing good.
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Probably so. When I do fish its almost always for crappie so the lake is usually low and a little stained.

I've only seen it truly "muddy" a few times after massive rains and even then it clears out quick.
 
#20
#20
midnight orange said:
Primarly for boating but would want to relatively close to a grocery store, restaurant, hardware store (10-20 minutes). I would also want to be within a hour drive to Knoxville. Close proximity to The Smokies for hiking would be a plus. Price is also a huge consideration.
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Tellico or a little further out in Kingston area if your looking to be on the river.
 
#21
#21
midnight orange said:
Primarly for boating but would want to relatively close to a grocery store, restaurant, hardware store (10-20 minutes). I would also want to be within a hour drive to Knoxville. Close proximity to The Smokies for hiking would be a plus. Price is also a huge consideration.
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To me, sounds like there's a few areas on Douglas and Cherokee that would suit your needs.

Go look around them soon so you can see if the winter drawdown will bother you.

Again, it never has bugged me but I know it does some.
 
#22
#22
Look up the history of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The most important reason for TVA was to stop catastrophic flooding in the Tennessee river basin by building dams to make reservoirs to hold the winter and spring rains runoff.

search

chattanooga flood of 1917

and look at "images"

So get this in your head. TVA draws down the water levels in the lakes to absorb wet season runoff and prevent catastrophic flooding downstream. They always do it, every year, the same for each lake. And the depth of draw down varys from a few feet to YUUGE!

Some are drawn down from summer pool levels "catastrophically" ;-). For those who bought on Norris -20 feet, Douglass -40+feet, Cherokee -25feet. People buy lake lots there all the time and move after the first year. Depending on where work is I wouldn't choose any of those three unless I had to.

I grew up a river rat on Watts Bar -4feet). I could chuck a rock out my bedroom window and hit the lake. Summer or winter. Winter provides some of the most beautiful times to be on the water. Watts Bar "south of the river" (meaning where the Tennessee and the Clinch rivers come together) is beautiful. Look a a map. You'll see the Tennessee river turns south there. For a home, I like the east side of the river, down River Road (Hwy304). The west bank requires a lot of driving depending on where you work. Meets all your criteria except a view of the Smokies, which you can have, but you get a ridgetop lot and keep your boat in dry storage or a slip.

If your lot has to be on the water- which it should, with a deep water pier:

Watts Bar, Melton Hill. Fort Loudon and Tellico Lakes. Loudon & Tellico are connected by a channel and have the same lake levels, but also have a shallow draw down -6feet. Kingston has a pretty good school system. Oak Ridge has a very good one, as that's the "Secret City" of the Manhattan Project. Melton Hill Lake -4feet has some nice spots.

While Norris, Douglas, Cherokee Lakes are of course beautiful when the water is up during the summer, the huge, and I mean YUUGE! drop in winter for flood water runoff protection (one of the original and the MOST important reasons for TVA), ruins them for year round living on the water in my opinion. If you choose one of those, save money and get a ridgetop lot instead of a waterfront lot in a planned community. You'll have dock access, and maybe the Smokies view.
 
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#23
#23
Sorry about the length, done on my phone, hard to proof and edit.

Look up summer and winter lake stages for whichever lakes you look at.
 
#24
#24
Cherokee isn't as bad as it used to be (at least at our place). We would just grab a pole and push the dock out when it did. Now my dad got smart and added wheels. I used to love it when the water was low and we'd find the occasional arrowhead laying in the rocks. My dad has a huge collection from when he was a kid but then people realized they could sell them and they disappeared
 
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#25
#25
utvolpj said:
Cherokee isn't as bad as it used to be (at least at our place). We would just grab a pole and push the dock out when it did. Now my dad got smart and added wheels. I used to love it when the water was low and we'd find the occasional arrowhead laying in the rocks. My dad has a huge collection from when he was a kid but then people realized they could sell them and they disappeared
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We do the same thing. Let out some rope when it drops, crank it in when it comes up.

It's just not something that's ever bothered us. We just burn brush or build fish beds in the winter.
 
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